hinese Premier Li Keqiang Joao Cancelo Mundial Camisola , also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presides over a work conference on reinvigorating the outmoded industrial bases in China's northeast and other regions, in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2014. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli Adrien Silva Mundial Camisola , also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the conference. (XinhuaXie Huanchi) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) presides over a work conference on reinvigorating the outmoded industrial bases in China's northeast and other regions, in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2014. (XinhuaXie Huanchi)

BEIJING Eduardo Mundial Camisola , July 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang vowed on Thursday that China will take effective measures to stabilize the economy in northeast China, a region that has seen growth slow since last year.

Presiding over a cabinet meeting on the subject, the premier talked to central and local government officials about problems facing the regional economy, and work that needs to be done to boost the region.

Li urged local governments to promote scientific development, deepen reform, expand opening up Cedric Mundial Camisola , and be more innovative. He added that the region's abundant resources, industrial layout and talent should provide great growth potential.

The premier sees simplification of administrative approval procedures and delegation of power as important in stimulating businesses and creating a fair market environment, especially for small companies. He said private banks will also be piloted in the region.

The government will encourage state-owned companies to pilot reforms in the region, according to Li.

Meanwhile, he asked local governments to improve social welfare and invest more in public facilities such as transport, water projects Ricardo Quaresma Mundial Camisola , as well as renovation of railways and shantytowns.

The premier said local companies must attach greater importance to research and development, and that priority will be given to the development of newly emerging industries.

Regarding high-speed trains, nuclear power and high-voltage projects, equipment-making industries in which northeast China specializes, Li said more technological and product innovation is needed if the region is to maintain its edge in these sectors.

Agricultural modernization also has an important role to play in boosting regional growth, Li said Mario Rui Mundial Camisola , urging better farm produce processing, construction of grain storage facilities, and better ecological protection.

Coastal areas were also tasked with further opening up to northeast Asia to benefit from more cooperation.

by Zhang Jiawei, Jin Jing

EDINBURGH, Britain, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- With China's growing investment in space science and technology and its increasing market demand for satellite applications Gelson Martins Mundial Camisola , countries like Britain are looking to work more closely with China in the area.

"China is a huge country and satellites are perfect in providing the data unique for agriculture, for climate, for air quality," Chris Lee, head of International Space Partnerships at UK Space Agency, told Xinhua.

He made the remark on the sideline of the 12th UK-China Space Workshop on Space Science and Technology Goncalo Guedes Mundial Camisola , which was held in Edinburgh this week.

"From China, we will then have an opportunity to take those capabilities out to the rest of the world. So if I were to pick a particular area. I think it would be the applications of satellites," said Lee. "And because the UK has some key strength in this area as well, I think we are natural partners in focusing on how you use satellite data rather than how you build satellites themselves."

The two sides have made efforts to promote satellite applications in some specific areas.

The STFC (Science and Technology Facilities Council) Newton Agri-Tech Fund was launched in 2015 under the auspices of the UK-China Space Science Joint Laboratory. This joint initiative looks to use the UK's expertise in remote sensing and modelling in the area of agricultural technology to work with and aid the Chinese farming community.

The 12-million-pound (15.68 million U.S. dollars) fund is spread over five years and will make use of the breakthroughs in satellite imaging, remote sensing and modelling to help provide facilities and technologies that will support research driven, decision making tools for farmers and policy makers.

It provides the chance for Chinese and UK researchers to work together to exchange ideas Manuel Fernandes Mundial Camisola , and make closer ties across the cultural and social boundaries.

"I think......both the UK and China have a very strong belief that satellites can be used for governments around the world to improve the well being of their citizens," said Lee. "We both share a philosophy called space for smarter government, and I think we and China want to showcase how space is useful to support the UN's sustainable goals."

Satellite applications in agriculture is just one part of the two sides deepened cooperation in space science.

"Both China and the UK see space science and technology as one very important and interesting area, and have encouraged cooperation between the two sides' colleges and research institutions," said Lijun Xu, Dean of School of Instrument Science and Opto-electronic Engineering Andre Gomes Mundial Camisola , Beijing-based Beihang University, in an interview with Xinhua. Xu also attended the Space Workshop.